HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-23 - AGENDA REPORTS - AMEND ZONING PARKING VEHICLES (2)AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Appro,
Item to be presented
PUBLIC HEARING
DATE: March 23, 1999
SUBJECT: AMEND THE ZONING CODE PROHIBITING UNPERMITTED
VEHICLES FROM PARKING ON THE REQUIRED FRONT YARD OR
ANY ADDITIONAL AREA OF A RESIDENTIAL LOT THAT IS VISIBLE
FROM THE STREET AND NOT CONSIDERED A DRIVEWAY.
RESOLUTION NO.99-37
ORDINANCE NO. 99-4
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt Resolution 99-37, adopting a negative declaration for the amendment to the Unified
Development Code. Introduce Ordinance No. 99-4 and pass to a second reading establishing
regulations for parking on residential lots.
BACKGROUND
As a result of a written complaint by a citizen back in June of 1998, the City Council directed
staff to research the possibility of prohibiting vehicles from being parked on front lawns and
yards that are visible from the street.
The complaint came about because several homeowners within the City were frequently using
their front lawns as a place to store or park their cars. Currently, the City doesn't have any
provisions in the Code that prohibits this other than the regulations that restrict commercial
type vehicles or inoperative vehicles from being stored or parked in front of the house.
The City Council felt that if this type of provision is legally feasible, it would help clean up some
of the neighborhoods that don't belong to Homeowner's Associations in the City. Usually
Homeowner's Associations prohibit any type of vehicles from parking on any area of their
residential lot other than the driveway.
After researching this issue, staff presented an amendment to the Planning Commission which
would prohibit unpermitted vehicles from parking on the required front yard setback and any
additional area of the lot that is visible from the street and not on the driveway. On February
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16, 1999, the Planning Commission recommended approval to the City Council for the
amendment.
The amendment as written will apply to all those that park or store their vehicles on a
residential lot that are not on a driveway and in an area that is visible from a street. For
example, if a vehicle is parked or stored on the required front yard setback it would be in
violation of this provision. Also, if the vehicle is parked or stored anywhere else on the property
that can be seen from the street it would be in violation of this provision. However, if the
vehicle is park or stored on the driveway which is described as a path of travel, connecting a
street to a garage, carport, accessory structure, or the same/adjacent street, it would be allowed.
In addition, this amendment would allow all vehicles including recreational vehicles that are
under 15,000 pounds in gross vehicle weight to park on a residential lot subject to the
requirements of this provision. Staff used 15,000 pounds as a result of feedback from citizens.
Lastly, if any of the provisions of this amendments are violated it will be considered an
infraction and subject to the appropriate fees and consequences already established in the
Unified Development Code. Each violation is punishable by a fine of $100 for the first violation.
Subsequent violations of the same provision is punishable by a fine of $200 for the second
violation and $500 for the third violation in a 12 month period as provided by applicable law.
The fourth and any further violations of this provision within a 12 month period is deemed a
misdemeanor. Each misdemeanor is punishable by a maximum fine of $1000 or six months in
jail, or both.
SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CODE
The following would be incorporated into the Property Development Standards of the UDC:
2. Residential lots shall be kept free of unpermitted vehicles. A person shall not keep, store,
park, maintain or otherwise permit any vehicle or any component thereof in the required
front yard or any additional area of a lot plainly visible from a public or private street,
except that the parking of vehicles less than 15,000 pounds in gross vehicle weight is
permitted on a driveway.
In addition, this provision will be added into the infraction section of the UDC if it is violated.
Lastly, the following definition will be add to the UDC:
DRIVEWAY shall mean a paved or unpaved path of travel, connecting a public or private
street to a garage, carport, accessory structure, or the same /adjacent public or private
street.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other actions as determined by Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinance 99-4
Negative Declaration Resolution 99-37
Planning Commission Resolution No. 99-01 (Available in City Clerk's reading file)
Initial Study (Available in City Clerk's reading file)
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CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING ORDINANCE 99-4 OF THE CITY OF
SANTA CLARITA AMENDING THE SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE, BY
ADOPTING REGULATIONS PROHIBITING UNPERMITTED VEHICLES FROM
PARKING ON RESIDENTIAL LOTS (UDC AMENDMENT 98-004).
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: A Public Hearing will be held before the City of Santa
Clarita City Council on this matter and associated potential environmental impacts, if any, at
the following time and location:
DATE: March 23, 1999
TIME: At or after 6:30 p.m.
LOCATION: City Council Chambers
23920 Valencia Boulevard
First Floor
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
PROJECT LOCATION: Citywide
APPLICATION: Master Case No. 98-281, UDC Amendment 98-004, Ordinance 99-4
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposal would prohibit a person to keep, store, park, maintain
or otherwise permit any vehicle or any component thereof in the
required front yard or any additional area of a lot plainly visible
from a public or private street, except that the parking of vehicles
less than 12,000 pounds in gross vehicle weight is permitted on a
driveway.
PROJECT PROPONENT: City of Santa Clarita
A DRAFT NEGATIVE DECLARATION has been prepared for this proposed project and is
available for public review beginning at 4:00 p.m. on January 26, 1999 at:
City Hall
Department of Planning and Building Services
23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 302
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Proponents, opponents, and any interested persons may appear and be heard on this mattter
during the public hearing. Further information may be obtained by contacting Jeff Hogan at
the Planning Division, Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 302, Santa
Clarita, California. Phone No. (805) 255-4330.
If you wish to challenge the action taken on this matter in court, you may be limited to raising
only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or
in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clarita at, or prior to March 15, 1999.
Posted: Santa Clarita City Hall
Published: The Newhall Signal February 23, 1999
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